Men Face Their Own Important Health Issues
By Rachel Shouse
Men. You can't live with them and you can't live without them. Although men may be seen as physically stronger than their female counterparts, they still need to be sure they're taking care of themselves. You, man or woman, may not be aware of what's affecting men's health currently. A few things that are negatively impacting men are cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and suicide.
Men and Their Struggle With Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer to men. In order to be clear and specific, atherosclerosis is the hardening of the arteries within the heart. This happens when plaque builds up within the arteries of the heart.
A few different problems arise here. If the plaque clogs the artery the result is a heart attack. Sometimes that plaque or clot can dislodge. Your blood runs all throughout your body so depending on where it lodges itself determines what could happen. It could end up somewhere within the heart, like mentioned earlier, and result in a heart attack. If it makes it past the heart, the next worst case is the brain. If the clot lodges itself within your brain, the result is a stroke.
The Battle With Diabetes
Diabetes is also known as the silent health threat for men. Diabetes doesn't just occur overnight. Well, type 1 diabetes surely can. That develops earlier on in life. So type 2 is the type of diabetes that men have to watch out for.
Diabetes is diagnosed by blood tests. The amount of sugar that is in your blood after fasting for a certain amount of time will tell the doctors how well your pancreas is working. Your pancreas creates insulin. When you eat sugar, your pancreas makes insulin in order to lower the concentration of sugar. Over time, your pancreas can slow down or stop working. That's the difference between non-insulin and insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes.
Men Feel Too
The unfortunate truth behind being a man is that they're expected to handle whatever comes at them. They're not supposed to ask for help or say that they have a problem. That stigma causes mental illness and can even be pushed to the max. That'd be suicide. Statistics say that women are more likely to attempt suicide. They also state that men are more likely to succeed in their attempts.
It can be the saddest reality. Children, parents, grandparents, friends, and more are affected when a loved one commits suicide. The best way to end this problem is to normalize talking. Having problems is normal. Keeping that all within yourself is not however. Always encourage the men and women you love to reach out if they're ever in need.
Anyone who feels like committing self-harm should contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1 (800) 273-8255.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Azusa, Calif.